Bill proposes rich retirement deals for Raila and Kalonzo

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka will be entitled to monthly pensions equal to 80 per cent of their last monthly salary in office.

This is according to the Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Bill, which sailed through its second reading yesterday. It will be returned to the House today for any amendments and approvals.

Raila and Kalonzo will get Sh800,000 each month, in addition to two saloon cars of not more than 2,000cc each. Each of the former leaders will also be entitled to a four-wheel-drive vehicle of notmore than 3,000cc, with 15 per cent of their former monthly salaries as fuel allowance.

Some MPs have already told the House that they will propose amendments to reduce the packages, which they term a luxury.
One of the other amendments expected will allow Raila and Kalonzo to continue being active in politics even as the State continues to provide them with retirement benefits.

Moving the Bill, Suba MP John Mbadi protested the move by the Budget and Appropriations Committee to insert a Clause which indicates that, for anyone to benefit, that person should not engage in elective politics.

The Bill provides pension and other retirement benefits to the persons who hold the offices of Deputy President and designated State offices upon their ceasing to hold office.

“I want to emphasise ‘upon their ceasing to hold office as such’ and not ‘upon leaving politics’. To provide for transitional purposes for the benefits to accrue to persons who have served as Prime Minister and Vice-President,” Mbadi told the House.

Last year, former President Kibaki rejected a Bill that MPs passed allowing for provision of retirement benefits of Deputy President and other designated State officers.

Currently, there is no provision in law on how to provide for retirement benefits of the offices of the Speakers and other State Officers such as the Chief Justice.

Mbadi said that he will also move an amendment to include former Vice-President Moody Awori, “because he also served this country for a full term”. Another amendment will set benefits set for Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, who retires in three years.

The Star